Michael Flanders and
Donald Swann had performed together as schoolboys, collaborating in 1940 on a revue at
Westminster School. They also wrote songs for
Ian Wallace, some of which he recorded on the LP ''Wallace's Private Zoo''. He and Swann decided to give a show along similar lines in London. They approached Frederick Piffard, manager of the New Lindsey Theatre, a fringe venue seating about 150 people, outside the London
West End theatre district, and played him some of their numbers. Swann recalled: "Nice songs", said Freddie Piffard, "but who's in it?" "Us," we said timidly. "Well, you pay the rent," he said, "it's up to you." The show opened on 31 December 1956 at the New Lindsey. No West End shows were opening on that evening, and consequently, as Swann put it, "quite a number of critics turned up on spec." In
The Observer,
Kenneth Tynan called the show "a witty and educated diversion … Mr. Swann, bent over his piano like a small mad scientist agog over some wild experiment, ideally complements the bearded suavity of Mr. Flanders, who exudes from his wheelchair the robust authority of him who came to dinner." Other notices were equally good, the box-office did excellent business, and the show transferred to the
Fortune Theatre in the
West End on 24 January 1957, where, according to
The Times, "it took the audience by storm". It ran for 808 performances at the Fortune until 2 May 1959. On 8 October 1959 the show opened in New York at the
John Golden Theatre, running there for 215 performances. In the
New York Herald Tribune Walter Kerr wrote, "Whatever it is that runs through both these gentlemen's veins it makes them lively, witty, literate, ingratiating, explosively funny and excellent company for a daffy and delightful evening". == Description ==